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Winterlight over Loweswater with mountains in the background in Buttermere Valley, Lake District
Winter light over Loweswater in the Lake District, Cumbria | © National Trust Images/Paul Delaney
Lake District

Corpse road and tumuli walk

Get under the skin of the Cumbrian landscape on this trail through a patchwork of natural and archaeological features.

Discover layers of history

See a traditional farm, walk along an ancient corpse road and discover evidence of human activity dating from the Bronze Age to the Second World War.

Total steps: 7

Total steps: 7

Start point

Maggie's Bridge car park, grid ref: NY134210

Step 1

Start at Maggie's Bridge car park in Loweswater. Go through the gate opposite and follow the track up to High Nook farm, where you will see fine examples of traditional Cumbrian farm buildings.

Step 2

Leave the farmyard through the gate and bear slightly left. Follow this wide gravel track up towards High Nook Tarn and take the path veering right.

Step 3

You are now on part of the corpse road that leads from Buttermere to Lamplugh church, and onwards to St Bees Priory. Follow this parallel to the wall and be sure to take in the great views when a gap in the woodland appears.

Step 4

Go through a small gate in the woodland wall and follow the steep, narrow downhill track. When you reach a wider forestry track, turn left.

Step 5

It's worth pausing here to look at Holme Force waterfall and the single span stone bridge that crosses Holme Beck. Follow the forest track downwards until you meet another intersecting track.

Step 6

Follow the narrow track towards the lakeshore and turn right. You will come across a rectangular platform on your left. This dates from the Second World War, when cables were stretched across the lake, with the intention of thwarting any German sea-planes attempting to land here.

Step 7

As you near the Bothy (our camping barn) you may notice two burial mounds near the path. Continue out of the woods and across the hay meadows back to the car park.

End point

Maggie's Bridge car park, grid ref: NY134210

Trail map

Map route for Corpse Road and tumuli walk
Map route for Corpse Road and tumuli walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Get in touch

Buttermere, near Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9UZ

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We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

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